KhattarWong
01 October 2007
Leading regional practice KhattarWong was founded in 1974 and offers full-service practices in Singapore and China, as well as providing advice to clients with business interests in India, Indonesia, Thailand, the Middle East, the Philippines, Brunei and Malaysia. The firm boasts eight practitioners in our study of the Singapore legal market, in diverse areas of speciality ranging from corporate law to litigation.
KhattarWong in Who's Who Legal: Singapore
KhattarWong distinguishes itself in the insurance and reinsurance research as the only firm to achieve two listings. “Outstanding for insurance litigation”, respected senior partner Abdul Rashid Gani’s practice also encompasses arbitration in this area. K Anparasan completes the duo; as deputy managing partner of the firm, he is “well regarded by the insurance companies in Singapore”, according to sources.
In the corporate tax chapter, KhattarWong was one of only three firms to provide two partners for our list. Peers praised the firm’s handling of both contentious and non-contentious matters – S Sharma was given as an example of this all-round perspective, and his knowledge of the tax aspects of corporate restructurings also merited comment. Cited as “the best” by contributors, he has worked with the Inland Revenue authorities. His colleague Gurbachan Singh was described as “one of the greatest”.
The firm’s large real estate practice is closely linked to its banking and finance capabilities and perfectly placed to cater for the area’s ongoing boom in development. “Recognised strengths” include development work and high-end conveyancing, and litigation. Amita Dutt’s practice was recommended as “very strong in all areas” and she co-heads the banking, finance and property development group, and also works closely with the firm’s India group. She counts private client real estate among her strengths and acts for banks and other lenders as well as developers.
Singapore has become a key destination for franchisors and Wun Rizwi offers expertise in the local and Chinese markets, bringing in-house experience as legal officer in a multinational to the table.
In the field of management labour and employment, Deborah Barker SC was said to be “very good indeed” for her advice to local and foreign companies. She is also a prolific author.
In the business crime chapter former deputy public prosecutor and state counsel of the attorney general’s chambers Foo Cheow Ming completes the firm’s showing. A member of the criminal practice committee of The Law Society of Singapore, his experience as defence and prosecuting counsel runs the gamut of white-collar offences.
To see more profiled firms from Singapore, vist the Firm Profiles page in the Singapore Special Report